Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-12-02
Nortnumberlant. County.

Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette
The venerable little town OF Heathsvlle,
with the impress of old age 80 visible, is the
county seat of Northumberland county and
has a popua ion of about six hundred. 10
the immediate vicinity or on its suburbs
uumb,r cf beautiful residences have been
erected within q few years past, and found
everybody social and pleasant. The court
house building is a good one and Judge
Ewell, most excellent gentleman, intelli.
gent, popular and efficient in the discharge
OF his duties. The Commonwealth attor
ney, Lloyd T Smith, is well known to many
persons in your section, heing native of
Loudoun county. He is greatly esteemed
for his ability ne q lawyer as well as extra
ordinary qualities OF mind and heart. This
county, containing about eight thousand in
habitants, is at the mouth Of the Potomac.
Undua,ions, most beautiful, abound, adorned
with handsome residences, highly i'm.
proved little farms. everything bright
and attractive l found to my great sur.
prise, near Lodge Landing one Of the
most perfect little machine shops.
that can he found in the State. 1t is built
near the extreme end OF peninsula ex
.endiug into Yeocomco creek and contain
ing only four acres. Here is manufactured
ali the marking and cancel;ng steel stamps
used by the Posioffice Department and sup
piled to every postotfce in the United
States This is doubtless news to many.
The factory is owned and worked by Col.
Betj. Chambers who for twenty years has
had The contract for supplying the depart
men5 with every steel stamp used through
OFT The country. He employs fourteen
expert work men, and it is wonderful to see
the apdity with which the work goes on,
every man bavine his particular part to finish
up. The steel used is made by the Bessamer
process; the names ofthe postotiices, &c, arc
cut upon the circular stamps with cElseIa,
BY hand, and then finished thoroughly and
hardened. Everything perteiniDg to the
outfit is manufactured on the premises, and
ehipments aEe made twice week TO the
department in Washington. The factory we5
removed from that city TO its present oce
tou abou, four years ago, by the contractor.
Col. Chambers is the present Chairman
ofthe democratic committee Of the county.
Some few years sgo only two houses could
ba seen hare. Now suppose at least a
hundred could be counted land oil this pros
perity is owing TO The enterprise and liberal
views OF Mr. NJ. T. Dawson, who bought this
property years ago. Ho sold of his lots at
low valuation, ard hencc the greatincrease
, Of population Only 8 short distance from
! there was located the old Masonic Lodge,
( built in Colonial days and destroyed by fire
/ in 1918 The records are still preserved IN
| this vicinity, and the name OF Geo. Wash
! iugton appears upon thea. Fairfield is an.
other CT the many prosperous sections Here
are located numerous fish factories, where
1 thousands of tons az the finuy tribe are man.
ufactured into fish guano and shipped to diff
fer5nt eections of the country. few years
1 ago sone large fortunes were made at this
I business. but. like every other enterprise, it
wac SOFA over done 1t was during those
prosperous times that many handsome
dwellipgs wore erected. with ali the sur
roundings in tip top order and farming in
| terests we'll in hand, together with stores,
large, pumerous and successful.
IL the interior of the county the farms
are large and well cultivated, and the grand
old mausions impos pg. The telephone
company is now preparing to put up their
! lines all through this section, and it is hoped
that they will he in successful operation by
the close of the year. There is not q rail
road through this populous and productive
country, but do not think that the day is
/ far distaut when the iron horse will rush
| through these fertile fields, for the people
feel keeaiy the great injustice being done
them For instance local points or land
ngs ara compelled TO pay 25 to 80 cents per
barrel, freight charges, whilst the same is
| transported 10 or from either of the terminal
points, Baltimore or Fredericksburg, at half
| price. For several weeks in the winter
navigation is closed by the ice, and then the
peop'e ar cut off entirely. The time must
come when this delightful country will be
opened up by railroads. Then population
will flow in. aud every section be rapidly
developed Sill iind some people through
here opposed to railroad, and for reasons
900 absurd to mention.
Hunting is excellent about here. q few
miles from this place several fine bucks
hsve been killed in the past week. Foxes
and small game also sbouud.
The memory of the Confederate soldiers
of this county who we're killed will be
made known to future generations by the
beautiful marble monument, near the Court
House, erected by the ladies of the county.
It is an imposing shaft about % feet high,
crowned with female figure. Upon this mon
ument the names Of one hundred and fifty
six Confederate soldiers are engraved, ''who
gave their lives for their native State and
the South" Z. w. II.
A disease of so delicate nature
as structure OF the urethra should only be
entrusted 10 those of large experience and